Malaysia’s top men’s doubles pair, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, etched their names in the history books today by clinching the Thailand Open title after a thrilling three-set victory over Denmark’s surprise finalists, William Kryger Boe and Christian Faust Kjaer. The world No. 5 duo displayed remarkable resilience at the Nimibutr Stadium, battling back from a set down to secure a 20-22, 21-17, 21-12 triumph in a tense 60-minute final.
This momentous win marks Chia and Soh’s second title of the season, following their Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) triumph in March. This is the first time the pair has secured two titles in a single calendar year, underscoring their consistent performance and growing dominance on the international stage.
Beyond their personal achievements, this victory carries significant national pride as it ends Malaysia’s long-standing 16-year title drought in the men’s doubles category at the Thailand Open. The last Malaysian pair to lift this coveted trophy was Chan Peng Soon and Lim Khim Wah back in 2009.
Chia and Soh demonstrated clear signs of maturity and tactical awareness throughout the final. After narrowly losing the first game despite holding an 18-17 lead, they regrouped and elevated their game in the subsequent sets, effectively neutralizing the challenge posed by the unseeded Danish pair.
Kryger Boe and Faust Kjaer, ranked a distant No. 75 in the world, were the surprise package of the tournament. Their unexpected run to the final included impressive victories over three seeded pairs, notably including world No. 3 Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto and fellow Malaysians Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun. This remarkable feat came after the Danish duo had suffered first-round exits in their previous five tournaments, making their performance in Bangkok all the more astonishing.
For their stellar performance, Chia and Soh walked away with a prize purse of US$37,525 (RM161,130), while Kryger Boe and Faust Kjaer earned US$18,050.
The day proved to be a historic one for Malaysian badminton as, earlier in the day, Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah also secured the women’s doubles crown. The top-seeded world No. 4 pair delivered an emphatic performance to overcome South Korea’s Jeong Na Eun and Lee Yeon Woo, ranked No. 105, with a 21-16, 21-17 victory in a 57-minute final.
This Thailand Open title marks Pearly and Thinaah’s fourth World Tour title, adding to their previous successes at the Swiss Open (2021), French Open (2022), and Hong Kong Open (2024). Their victory earned them US$37,525 (RM161,191), while the South Korean pair received US$18,050 (RM77,535).
With the Malaysia Masters set to commence at the Axiata Arena next, this triumphant outing in Bangkok provides perfect momentum for both Chia-Soh and Pearly-Thinaah. Chia and Soh, who were recently crowned National Sportsmen of the Year following their Paris Olympic bronze medal win last season, will undoubtedly be looking to carry this winning momentum onto home soil. The rare double victory in Thailand signifies a powerful resurgence for Malaysian badminton and will undoubtedly boost the confidence of the entire national contingent.